State News:California

Is it Murder if Victim Refuses Blood Transfusion Due to Faith

AP
13-DEC-98

(Pomona, California-AP)-- A dark California night-- an apparently drunken driver fatally injures a woman standing by the side of the road.

But the woman-- a Jehovah's Witness-- lived long enough to refuse blood transfusions, in keeping with her religion.

Now, a jury in suburban Los Angeles must decide whether Keith Cook is guilty of second-degree murder, or whether victim Jadine Russell caused her own death by refusing transfusions.

Even some prosecution witnesses testified the blood may have saved her-- but no witness would say for sure.

Cook already was on probation for drunk driving. His blood alcohol level the night Russell was hit was allegedly twice the legal limit. He faces 15 years to life if convicted.

In Louisiana recently, an appeals court upheld three vehicular manslaughter convictions against a drunk driver although one victim -- also a Jehovah's Witness-- had refused transfusions.

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